Process of correcting the pitch of drive-chains.



s. 0 10cm PROCESS OF CORRECTING THE PITCH OF DRiVE CHAINS.

I A PPL!CATIDN FILED AUG. 1. 19M liolfiwfih Pat-elm May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. D. LOCKE.

PROCESS OF CORRECTIN G THE PITCH OF DRIVE CHAINS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13914.

1,19, 0%@ Patented May1L1915.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- S. D. LOCKE. PROCESS OF CORRECHNG THE PITCH'GF omve cums, APPUCATMN FILED AUG. 1, 1914.

L1;,@%% Patent-ed Ma y 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' One object by all the other in series, and then,

0F B BIDGEPORT, CDNHECTICUT, ASSIGN T13 LClCKE S'IEEEL BELT SYL'VANUS I). LDGKE,

pitch of each link of the COMPANY, OF .BBIDGEPQB'E, CQNNEQTICU PROCESS OF CORRECTING- THE PITCH 0E DB1! E-GHAVINS.

risaeai.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-knowii that I, S'rLvANns D. Leone, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful l'ni )rovements in the lrocess ct Correcting the lfitch of Drive-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to .9. process for making drive chain having links of uniform pitch. each link consisting of side cars, a relatively small end bar or pintle and a relatively large end hook or sprocket bar.

It is a division of my application Serial Number 436,711, filed June a, 1908;, renewed. Jan. 17, 1914.

of the invention is to provide a process for making drive chain in which the chain is individu ally corrected.

Another object of the invention is to stretch each link relative to an adjacent link to give it a definite pitch or size, where links of the chain will be of uniform pitch.

Other objects will be obvious from the following description.

My invention contemplates the formation of the individual links in any suitable man ner, connecting them together one after the after they are connected together, correcting the pitch of each link individually so as to make all of the links of the series of unilforni pitch.

For the purpose of illustration 1 have selected to describe my new process in connection with the manufacture of sheet metal drive chain links, in which the end bars of each link are formed by rolling up a section of metal. lVith links of this character variation in pitch is quite certain to arise, due to the variations in thickness of the metal stock. In all drive chains made from sheet metal of which I am aware, and in which the links are formed in dies, the outside dimensions of the end bars as curved or rolled up by the dies, are substantially uniform. The inside dimcnsions,however,of the large end or sprocket bars of each link, which encircle the small endbar-ofan adjoining link, vary in accordance with the thickness of the metal. Consequently the thicker the metal .he shorter the chain and the thinner the metal the longer the chain. it a series Specification of Letters ma.

4, 3.908, Serial Ito. 435,711. Renewed ivldel. and this application filed August 1, 1914;.

- forward step by step,

ing operation on one link being efiectecl be- -tion, of a machine 'pleted the main frame.

Patented May ill, 1915.

January 1?,191, Serial. lilo. 812,898. Serial at. 254,501.

of linksas such is subjected to a stretching action in order to make the pitch length of the series-correct, there is no assurance that the individual links of the series will each be of the proper pitch; some links will he of longer pitch than others? i have, therefore, round it desirable to sub ect each link individually toe sizing and correcting operation so as to insure uniformity oi: pitch of the links irrespective of variation in thickness of the stock of metal used in their making. With sheet metal drive chain linksl preferahly correct the pitch of the links immediately after they have been formed into shape from a strip of metal. r

As an example of one Way of carrying: out my improved method in actual practii'fi, l have herein selected to illustrate it in connection with a machine, having means for connected links. 1 then stretch the links, one at a time, successively, as they are fed up to a predetermined pitch or size, each stretching orpitch correcttween it'and the adjacent link or relative to the adjacent link, so that all the links are stretched. uniiormly.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, artly in elevation and partly in secadapted for carrying out my process. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the pair of dies and pitch correcting devices. Fig. 3 is an edge view showing the stepsin forming a chain into links, the com chain links being shown at the left handend. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the metal strip and chain hown in Fig. 3. Fi l is a bottom plan view of the movable die and stretcher mechanism. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the stationary die. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7 illustrating a part of the extracting mechanism; Fig. '5 is a plan view of a portion of the ex t acting mechanism. I

In the drawings-1 indicates as an en'- tirety the main frame of the machine com prising uprights 2, 3, and a bed 4 arranged between the uprights.

5 is a vertically reciprocatablc slide mounted to move up and down in guides 8, 'Z', on

8' is a. resin drive shaft treusversl y mouated m hearings at the upper end heme. 9 is e countershaft transs'erselymouhtecl upon the main frame and extending, from one side to the other tl'lereof. At one side ofthe main frame the eounhereh'aft carries a, loose pulls 1 10, a fast pulley 11, and a fly Wheel 12. it the other side of the theme the said countershaft has mounted loosely u on it c pinion 13 carrying one eleineht 1 0 a clutch is, the other element 14: of which is splined to the countershaft 9. Any suitable mechanism may he cleplcycdfor throwing the lon itudinally movable clemeat 14* of said c utch into and out of engagement with the element 14, so as to transmit powcrtthrough the pinion 18.

15 is a gear wheel rigidly secured to said main shaft and in mesh with the pinion 13.

'16 is an eccentric on the main shaft 8 connected by eccentric straps 1.7, 17'," and pitman 18' to the slide 5.

Any suitable mechanism may be attached to the press for feeding the stock or a strip of metal indicated at 36, from which the chain links are to be formed across the bed or bolster of the press. For the purpose of illustration I have, in the drawings shown feed mechanism of which-195s a bracket secured to the standard 3 of the frame and having a horizontally disposed platform 2-0, the inner end of which extends into a hole 3' through the standard 3.

21, 21, am side Walls (only one thereof being shown) extending vertically upward, one at each side of the platform 20.

22 is a horizontally reciprocatable slide suitably mounted atcitheiside in guideways u the said side Walls 21. lit rests upon a horizontally disposed friction plate having downwardly extending pins 24:, 24:, each surrounded by a coil spring bearin at its upper end against the plate 23and at its lower end against the platform 20, so as to provide a yielding support for the slide 22 which against the upper walls of the guideways to insure the closing of the feed jaws, to be hereinafter described, before the slide commences to move fOIWlLN 26 is a gripping piece carried by the slide 22, having an upwardly tm'ncd jaw 26 adapted to cngage the under sin-face of the stock or strip of metal 36 to be fed across the bed or bolster.

' 27 is an oscillalablc a jaw 27 adapted to 'cugagc the upper surface of the strip of metal 36 to be led, at a point directly abovc tho gi-ippiz1gjz1w This gripping jaw 27 pivotallymountcd V "on upwardly extending logs or cars C (only one thcreo'f bciz'lg shown) on and carries an upwardly exis rocked out of normally tcnds to press the slide holder 3!.

gripping (log having crank lever 29.

31 is an adjustable stop for limiting the throw of the arm 28 in clockwise direction. This stop preferably consists 01" a screw extending through a threaded opening in a cross barZQ which latter extends between the co/r9522 252-, on the slide 22.

32 is a crank disk carried by the main shaft 8 and having a crank pin to which is pivotally connected one end of a connectrod 33 the other end of which is suitably connected to the free end of the arm 29" of the bell crank lever 29 34s, 34, and 35, 55, are straightening rolls for the strip of metal or stock 36. These rolls are horizontally disposed and suitably mounted between the side Walls 21, 21, on the platform The strip of metal 36 is directed between the rolls 34, 34, and 35, 35, and between the gripping lips :26 and 27. The dog 27 and arm are shaped and proportioned to have a slight rocking motion relative to the slide 22 so that in normal operation, as the connecting rod is drawn to the right in Fig. l, the gripping jaw 27. engagement with the upper surface of the strip of metalBG. The arm. 28 then engages the stop 31 and the slide 2:2

the rod 30, it rocks recedes with the connecting rod 30. Upon the reversal of travel forward the upper end of the arm 28 and causes the gripping jaw 2'? to engage the upper surface of the strip 36, thereby grip" ping the said strip firmly between the jaws 26 and 2?" and the slide and strip 36 are together fed forward.

Of the die forming elements, 3? is a car" Pie? o1 holder for the movable die, it being suitably connected to the slide 5.

38 represents an entirety the movable die, it being suitably seated and held in the a bolster: or die bed for the stationary die. It is detachably secured to lhe bed 4i in any suitable manner. 40 represents as an entirety a stationzaw (llc suitably secured in the die bed 559. The dies 38 and- &0 which coiipci'atc with each other to form and assemble arranged in longitudinal alinement with and properly center-ed relative to the line of feed of the strip 36.

41, 42 are scoring knives or chisels arranged at the right hand end of the movable die 38 and adapted to impart lines of score to the upper-surface of the strip of metal 36.

43, ll, arc, corresponding 01' chiscls carried by the stationary die 40 and arranged to impart lines of score to the 39 represents the links, are

scoring knives adapted ingknife &6

blank for a link,

.. front of the; .die is shaped were strip of metal, each of i re. imparted by .one of the upper scoring km i i or" the and crimping element on 'v dies 38' and it is severing the upper die hav-. convex crimping surface. "it. is arranged to cooperate with a cuttingiand bendon'the lower die. The lower. die is recessed at i? in front 01"? the cutting knife ll and beneath the severing and crimping element do. The metal of the etationary die 46 in front ofthe recess 47 is cut-away along the inclined line 48 to perrnit a section of the metal of each link blank to be bent downwardly by the severing and crimping element as before it has been sev- .I .l at one end by the combined action of this'eleincn-t and knife 46.

es is curved forming or crimping elementon the movable die 38, about which the metal for forming the smaller end bar or pintle oi each link is bent or crimped. in front of this former i9 is a recess 50, and in front of it is an irregular shaped end her forming; punch element 51 consisting of two substantial quarter circles 51', 51..

is a forming and bending projection on the stationary' die, it being adapted to enter the recess on the movable die.

52 is a shoulder on the projection 52 a to field or crimp the metal for the small end of the link against the curved end. of the element 4.9 on the movable die.

is a scoring knite on the stationary die adapted to impart a transverse score to the strip of metal along the line of severance 0 two links which are to adjoin each other and, in conjunction with the forming corners 52 52", is adapted to force the metal of the link to follow the quarter circles 51, 51*, on the former 51. This scoring knife is in vertical alinement with the line of intersection of the said two quarter circles of the punch element 51. In advance of the said punch element 51 the movable die is recessed as indicated at 54': to allow clearance for the free npturning of the longlip of the metal which at this step of its formation projects upwardly from the metal strip. At '56 the stationary die is recessed to receive a cutting or severing knife 57 on the movable die, the edge 56' being a knife edge to Work in conjunction with the knife 5M0 sever the metal strip. Immediately in cut'ing knife 57 the movable as indicated at 58 to complete and formation of the small end her of each link in cooperation with the recessed section '59 of the stations ry d-ie. At till themovable die is recessed for the purpose of engaging the longersection or lip of metal turned up from the central portion oilfleach link blank and bendingcurling and the rounding conforming it to the cylindrical shape do 'or sprocket bar sired, at the same time causing it to encircle -thesmall end bar or pintle of the link in front of it, thereby coupling br attaching these links together. The stationary die is recessed at portion 60 of the movable die in thefinal shaping andi'orming of the large end bar of each link. o

62 is a projection extending transversely across the recessed portion 61 of the stationary die. It serves to prevent the ends or the lips of metal forming the large end of each link from engaging with each other, and to space them apart a predetermined distance.

6% indicates; gage arranged to properly feed the strip of metal 36 centrally between the dies. This gage is preferably situated between the feed mechanism and the dies and is provided with U-Sl'lfiPBQlWflllS'WlllCl'l cause the proper centering of the strip.

1 provide suitable mechanism for extract-- ing the links from the dies after they have been completely formed and for delivering them, one after the other from the machine. ()i": this mechanism, 66 is a chain guide comprising two bars 66. their inner ends to the die bed 89, and pro: jccting into the opening 3* through the ad jacent wall of the main frame of the machine. These bars are longitudinally grooved and recessed,as indicated at 67 to consth tute a gnideway for the chain. The bars are recessed at 66" to receive a swingable cover plate'fiS "which is pivotally connected at 69 between upwardly projecting ears 66 on the said guide bars.

68 is a thumb nut slot (58 in the cover plate 58 fitted into the guide bar (56, 01' holding down the cover plate 68 under normal. conditions.

'70 is a sprocket Wheel arranged between. and projecting between the guide bars 66. 66*. It is carried by a shaft 71. mounted in bearing blocks, each detachably secured to one of the aforesaid guide bars.

'23 is a pawl carrying arm loosely extending through a and (let-(reliably mounted on the shaft 71.

7 1 is a pawl pivotally connected to the arm 73.

75 is a ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the shaft 71 and having its teeth in the plane of the pawl 74.

76 is a big or projection carried by the slide- 5. It is pivotally connected at 76 to the ar1n=73 A 77 is aspring having one end secured at 76 to a rod 't'ti the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 77', to the frame of the machine, and its 'other end bearing against the teeth of thesprocket wheel to offer a frictional resistance to the rotation of the latter.

The sizing: or pitch correcting mechanism 61 to cooperate with the recessed for the purpose 66, rigidly secured at v 79*; its purpose isto list strip of metal up to is indicated in tlzedsswiugs econ entirety by 78 end" ini;he illustrstccl disclosure or" my invention, is erircnged to operate simultancously' with the link forming dies, thus avoiding separate operations outside oi. the machine for the carrying out of my proc ess for sizing and correcting of the pitch of the links. Q1 this sizing or pitch correcting device, 79is en erm extending forward 15mm and prcfei'eoly detotcimbly secured to the dis holder 37; This emu Y9 lies :iormed,

'prefershlyiiitegrally with it, e downwardly extending linger which is pointed at its lower end as iudicated'et 81, the reer surfocc 81 of the.ssid pointed linger being shorter at s gfrestor inclination to the horizontal than the f 'oiitsurfcce 81" of the said finger. This linger 80 is arranged to enter the sprocket opening" in the last link but one of the links formed in the machine.

Sills a block or finger pivotelly connected at 82 in the bifurcated end of the arm 79. This block or finger extends-downwardly beneath the arm 79, as indicated at 8? and is adapted to enter the sprocket o ieuing in the link next preceding the link enteredby the'fiuger 80.

.1833 is an adjustment screw fitted in the I fii'i cr 82 and ads )tcd extend on the rear side "of. tile latter and against the arm I too said finger 82 shoot the axis off too pivot and toward or from the finger 80. Thckmdjust- 83 prcferebly me nt Wheel. 83"for the screw has a toothed or serrated periphery 88.

84 is e loci: pawl extending through on opening in the forward projection 82* of the finger 82 and engaging with the periphery to hold the Wheel at any point of adjustment. 85 is a spring bearing at oueeiid against the lock pawl 841- und having its other end secured st 85 to the finger The distance between the front wall of the doWn- WiLIC'l extension 82 of the linger 82 and the rear Wall of the finger 8L remains substantially constant when the machine is in operation. If a. link is shorter in pitch than it should be, these sizing fingers bring it up to proper pitch by stretching it. lin practice, I lmvefound it desirable to. form and arrange. the'dies 38 and 1-0 for making of the desired and, proper pitch, chain links from the thinnest sections of the strip of steel used, depending upon the stretch or pitch correcting device 78 to draw the links formed from the thicker sections of the In the event that it is found that the links are not ct proper pitch, the mljustmont of the attcclunent'TS or the diesto make them so can be rcodilv and quickly made before such material hols been spoiled;

The production of chain by the proccss to the next link to be formed.

the forming of a link.

just described will be readily understood. A strip of metal 36 is directed through the feed mechanism until the gripping jaws 26, 27 of the feed mechanism can engage with it,

couutershai 9 to actuate the feed mecca oism and slide 5.

The strip 36 is guided and centered by the gage 64: so as to lie properly between the dies 38 and 10. hen the slide 5 descends the scoring A!) of the strip of metal lines of score 80, 81, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the scoring chisels 43, e4, on the stationary die bed impart to the under surface of the strip of metal similar lines of score. When the slide next ascends, the feed mechanism feeds for Ward the strip of metal one step and the first forming elements of the dies operate on the strip. The strip is fed forward step by step at each elevation of the slide, the

avutomuticclly extract the chain links from' the dies and advance them one step at a With the particular set of forming dies illustrated in. the drawings, I have foundit advisable to have tliejextmcting mecha nism operate to draw the last formed link forward so that its small end bar is slightly in iront'of its proper position to be coupled This is done 1E1. order tofacilitate the proper forward feed of the motel stripfor operation upon it by the forming elements which complete As the slide de-' scends after the last formed link has been extracted by the extracting mechanism, the

inclined surface 81" of the {altch correcting finger 80 engages the lzutgc and bar of said link and presses the link rcarw ardly until its small liar is properly centered relative to the final link forming elements of the dies. The pitch correcting or sizing fingers 80, S2, operate at each descent of the slide to enter two coupled links in the chain guide 85 and stretch the links up to gage, or size them as required.

To those skilled in the art of correcting the pitch of drive chain, many alterations and widely differingembodiments and up plicotions of my invention will suggest themselves x'vitoout departing from the scope and spirit thereof. My disclosures and dcscrhption herein are purely illuslm Power is then applied through the} knives l1, on the slide impart to the upper surface limiting.

, having links of uniform pitch, each h consisting of side bars, relatively small incense tive and are not intended to be in any sense What I claim is:

v1. The processof making drive chain having links of uniform pitch, eachglink;

consisting of side bars, a relatively small end bar or pintle, and a relatively large end, hook or "sprocket bar, which consists in; forming-the links, connecting them togetherin series, ;tnd then holding eachlinkof the series successively while correcting the pitch of an adjoining link. a

2: The process of making drive chainhaving links of uniform pitch, each-link consistingof 'side .bars, a relatively small".

. end bar or pintle, and a relatively large end hook or sprocket bar, which 'consists'. ii1 forming the links, connecting them-together in series, and then holding each. link of the series one after the'other, and correcting individually the pitch of. another link in the series. I j

4:. The process of making drive clliaifi end bar or pintle, and }a' relatively large end hook or sprocket bar,- which consists in forming the links, connecting them together in series, andthen stretching each link relaa a 5. The process of making drive; chain having links of uniform pitch, e'achlink' consisting' 'cf 1 side bars, a relatively small" end bar or pintle, and a relatively large end hook or sprocket bar, which consists in forming the links, connecting them together in series, and then stretchingthe linksindividually and. successively to correct and make their pitch uniform.

6. The process of making drive chain having links of iiniiorm pitch, each link consisting-of side bars, a relatively small end harj-..or pintle,. and a relatively large end hook or sprocket bar, which consists in firming the links," ,connecting them together an'seiies, and then stretching. the large end banof each link of the series, one after the other, to makethe pitch of the links uniform. f

'4". The process of making drive chain having links of iiniforni pitch, '\vhifch con- )tive to an adjoining link to correct its pitch.

sists in feeding astrip of metal "forward, 1 then scoring'the strip oi metal and severing,

crimping and shaping portions thereof to form a link having side bars, 'a' relatively sin-all. vend bar and a relatively large end bar or end hook, with the latter encircling the relatively small end barof the adjoining link, andffinally stretching each link indi vidually to correct the pitch thereof.

SYLVANUS D. LOCKE.

Witnesses: J. V. CORNWALL, 0. 'J.-OseoRNE. 

